Divers say sad job necessary, rewarding

Friday

Jul 29, 2011 at 2:00 AM

Tim Simmons likes the nice weather just like everybody else.

BY STEPHEN SACCO

Tim Simmons likes the nice weather just like everybody else.

But to Simmons, the dive master for Port Jervis' dive team, and the boat operators and divers in the towns of Lumberland, and Deerpark and in Matamoras and Westfall, Pa., the sunny days mean rescue calls on the Delaware River.

"This is our busy time," said Simmons, who said he can remember a time in the 1970s when very few people used the Delaware for recreation. Things have changed.

These five municipalities, which cover most of the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, have formed a working relationship across municipal and state lines for a number of years. And that's rare in field with a reputation for interagency bickering.

If one dive team is called the others will follow. As Jack Flynn, a longtime diver and former fire chief for Sparrowbush, said: "We're family."

The job description of a diver leaves a lot to be desired — perform dangerous work for free on weekends and holidays when you finally have time to spend with your family and friends.

"There were (about) eight calls (for divers) on the Delaware River this July 4th," said Dick Martinkovic, commissioner for public safety in Sullivan. "That's too many. But there was no loss of life (that day)."

Martinkovic says he is well aware that not everybody is cut out to be a diver; you need special equipment and training. He also worries about burnout for the divers.

Greg Fein, the assistant chief for Matamoras and a diver, said most divers started out diving for recreation and then volunteered. "You really feel like you're helping," he said. "Even if somebody can't be rescued, you can bring closure for the family by recovering (the body)."

U.S. Ranger Vince Pareago says he's been awed by the dedication of the divers and credits them and other volunteers, like the National Canoe Safety Patrol, with making the Upper Delaware safer. "There are only so many (park rangers); we need our volunteers," he said.

National Park Service statistics say the death toll on the Upper Delaware is 59 since 1980, when it began keeping records of such deaths.

Flynn, who's been a volunteer diver for a number of years, says he can remember each victim going back to the 1970s.

Divers say you can't forget. "You remember everybody you pull out of the water," Simmons said.

ssacco@th-record.com

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